2016f-conv-info - GMCMI

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>> Join Us at the GMCMI Fall Convention!

This will be our first time visiting Mansfield, Ohio. Mansfield offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for Elektro, one of the world’s first robots or an adventure for the daring. Experience nationally recognized attractions like the Ohio State Reformatory, filming site of the blockbuster movie “The Shawshank Redemption”. Dine in an old stage coach stop or enjoy authentic Greek cuisine and pick up sweet treats like homemade chocolate or bundt cakes to take home.

Do you feel daring? Sharpen your BMX skills at an extreme sports camp or zipline high above the trees.

The Richland B&O Bike Trail connects quaint towns to explore! Travel the trail at your own pace, walking, biking (or cross country skiing in winter) on the family-friendly 18.4 miles of paved path. There are several entry points along the trail, so jumping on and off is easy. Test your endurance or meander the trail, stopping to explore a local shop or indulge in a little ice cream.

Have you heard about the haunted mansions? Come for the ghost stories, leave with your own! Six locations in and around Mansfield, Ohio offering paranormal investigations, ghost hunts and ghost walks.

Sip, sample and taste your way through Richland County wine country! Relax and enjoy good food, good company and wonderful settings sampling local wines and beer at one of their three wineries and downtown brewery.

Check out more information at: www.mansfieldtourism.com


>> Convention Highlights

  • 15-21 hours of tech sessions
  • Early bird technical session
  • Vendors, Vendors, Vendors…
  • 12-19 hours of non-technical sessions
  • Six nights of camping, Fri. through Wed. night
  • Come early for Wednesday and Thursday
  • Three ice cream socials
  • Two catered dinners
  • Two Lunches
  • Hot waffles daily and an omelet breakfast
  • Daily Coffee Hour and Book Exchange
  • Daily Morning Drawings
  • Ladies Social
  • GMC Parts Exchange, Craft & Flea Market
  • Two Open Houses
  • Participate in the Sunday Worship Service choir
  • Pineblock Derby – don’t forget your racer!
  • The popular raffle for $1,000 in cash, free convention fees for two, plus many more items.

PLUS….
Chili Cookoff and a Murder Mystery Dinner!


>> The Ammenities

Richland County Fairgrounds
Located 65 miles northeast of Columbus and 65 miles southwest of Cleveland. The physical and mailing address is 750 N Home Rd, Mansfield, Ohio  44906; 40.7801° N, 82.5674° W.

•    Beautiful buildings and grounds
•    All sites have 30 amp electric and water
•    Free “Wifi Cafe”
•    Comfort station with restrooms, showers and laundry
•    Dump station available
•    Golf cart rental available, contact Kim for details.

Vendor Area

The facility offers a limited indoor vendor area (outside vendor area will also be available). Vendors please indicate on registration form if you wish to be inside or outside. Thank you.


>> Request for Mini Technical Session Presenters

The Mini-Tech Sessions have been received with great success. They consist of 15-20 minute tech/informational sessions that feature one thing that the presenter wishes to share. What is that one thing that you may wish to share? No formal powerpoint presentation or handout required. Contact Kim for details.


>> Happenings at the Convention

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“Ms. GMC Party”

The Great Laker Ladies are planning a “Ms. GMC Party” for the ladies social. The Mansfield Renaissance Historic Theater hosted the first Miss Ohio/Miss America Pageant in 1953 and continues today hence the “Ms. GMC Party”.

We hope you come and join in the fun and fellowship. It would be great if you would come in an evening gown or a swim suit or show us your talent. These are optional. If you have an evening gown that has a story, wear it or just bring it. Mansfield could be cold in September (or not) so you may want to wear your swim suit with something warm. This is a time to be silly and have fun.

Please bring your own tea cup or mug. Tea is always better in china. There will be ham roll appetizers, fresh fruit mix, gluten free crackers & cheese, as well as other goodies. Come to the party and claim your Tiara. Hope to see you there.

“Roaring 20s” Murder Mystery Dinner
With a murder on the menu, you are certain to find a medley of individuals to make the night most memorable. Bring your fedoras, pearls and feathers to the dinner, we encourage attendees to dress the period, but not required.

GMC Part Exchange, Craft & Flea Market
Bring those no longer needed items to sell! Also, we enjoy seeing and purchasing those lovely things you make.

Windshield Replacement Clinic!
Space is limited, contact Ken Burton as soon as possible at to make arrangements.

Welcome GMC Chapters!
We welcome the following chapters that are utilizing the GMCMI Convention as their rally. They are the GMC Eastern States, GMC Great Lakers, GMC Heritage Cruisers and the GMC Midwest Classic chapters.

Pineblock Derby
Get those GMC’s racers ready for the GMCMI Pineblock Derby! For GMCMI Pineblock Derby Rules go to gmcmi.com/gmcmi-pineblock-derby/. Basic kits will be available at the Convention for $12 each.

Blankets & Crafts
The blankets are easy to do. You don’t even have to sew! Just bring one yard of plain fleece and one yard of printed fleece and your scissors. The blankets are donated to a local charity. And what can I say about the crafts? We have changed the format of crafts to be a “social event”. We come together, talk, make crafts, etc. If any of you ladies have a craft or “show how” you would like to share, please let Kim know.

Book Exchange & Bookworms
Remember to bring your books, tapes and dvds for the Book Exchange held each morning. Also, bring your favorite book and share it at the “Bookworms and their Diet” session. A list will be provided at gmcmi.com of books shared.

GMCMI Great Geocache Bash
It’s back, offering a treasure hunt for the adventure seeker. Please bring your hand-held GPS devices. Men, women, first-timers are all welcomed!

Tech & Non-Tech Sessions
We have a couple of sessions open, just in case you have an idea or session you would wish to lead, please contact Kim.

Unable to Attend the Entire Convention
Not a problem! Please contact Kim at 612-501-4600 or via email at .


>> Events in the Area

The Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs return to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on September 19-25 for the first time since 2005. Track is located less than 10  miles from the fairgrounds. For more details and tickets go to midohio.com.

The Prairie Peddler Festival is held in Butler, Ohio (23 miles) on September 24-25. Step back in time and experience the simpler life of a bygone era. Located in Ohio on beautiful scenic St. Rt. 97, the Prairie Peddler Festival welcomes you to enjoy a day full of fun and entertainment. Over 180 traditional costumed craftsmen demonstrate and sell their handmade items in a beautiful wooded setting. Excellent food cooked over open fires and continuous country-style entertainment.


>> Area Information

Mansfield’s official nickname is “The Fun Center of Ohio”.

Ohio “the Birthplace of Aviation” Nearly 100 years ago, Ohio’s Wright Brothers changed the world with the first powered flight. Since then, Ohio has been home to countless aviation inventions, the birthplace of many pioneering aviators, the cradle of aviation industry, and the location of important events in the history of flight.

The Richland B & O Bike Trail, opened in 1995 and operated by the Richland County Park District, is a paved 18.3 mile hiking and bicycle trail laid out on the abandoned Baltimore & Ohio rail branch line from Butler via Bellville and Lexington to North Lake Park in Mansfield.

The Shawshank Trail “Drive-It-Yourself” Tour is a must for all Shawshank Redemption fans! 14 filming locations within Mansfield, Ashland and Upper Sandusky, Ohio. shawshanktrail.com

The popular image is of Johnny Appleseed spreading apple seeds randomly everywhere he went. In fact, he planted nurseries rather than orchards, built fences around them to protect them from livestock, left the nurseries in the care of a neighbor who sold trees on shares, and returned every year or two to tend the nursery. Mansfield was one of the areas he planted.

Mansfield Memorial Museum is the permanent home of ELEKTRO, America’s first robot built by the Westinghouse Company for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The museum is an architectural wonder, unchanged since 1889. Artifacts on two floors display collections from early Native American, African, Asian, military, natural history, display of 600 planes, 400 armored vehicles and industrial displays. themansfieldmuseum.org

Mansfield Fire Museum & Educational Center provides the fire fighting history from the bucket brigade through internal combustion powered fire engines. Includes reproductions of a turn-of-the-century fire station and a part of Main Street in Downtown Mansfield.

Check out more information at: www.mansfieldtourism.com


Click Here to download a PDF of the schedule.

>> Tentative Schedule – Updated September 20, 2016

Wednesday | September 28 | pre-convention
1:00 pm       Early GMCMI Arrival & Registration
6:30 pm       Professional Bingo | Doors open 5:00 pm

Thursday | September 29 | pre-convention
7:30 am       Morning Coffee and Donuts
9:00 am       Early GMCMI Arrival & Registration
7:30 pm       Ice Cream Social

Friday | September 30
7:30 am       Morning Coffee and Donuts
9:00 am       GMCMI Arrival & Registration
1:00 pm       Choir Practice for Sunday Worship Service
1:00 pm       Early Bird Tech Session – Alex Ferrara
Aligning & Adjusting the GMC’s Steering Column
3:15 pm       First Timers Meeting – All Members Welcome
4:30 pm      Craft Coordinators’ Meeting
5:15 pm       Welcome Meeting
6:30 pm       Catered Meal

Saturday | October 1
7:30 am       Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am       Let’s Get Moving! – Wear your comfy shoes and bring your dog.
7:30 am       Book Exchange
8:00 am       Cast Call for “Roaring 20s Murder Mystery Dinner”
9:00 am       Announcements/Daily Drawings – must be present to win
9:15 am       GMCMH Vendor Introductions
9:45 am       GMC Motorhome Mentor Program Assignments – Ken Henderson
10:15 am      Tech Session – Fred Hudspeth – Maintaining the GMC Motorhome
10:15 am       Non-Tech Session – “Let’s Get Acquainted, Ladies”
12:00 pm       Chili Cookoff!
1:45 pm       Tech Session – Tom Pryor – “Keeping Your Kool”
1:45 pm       Join us for a fun session of craft projects, cards, socializing and so much more!
3:00 pm       Mini Tech Session – Radiators! – Jim Buchanan
4:00 pm       Tech Session – Bill Kooistra – Time for a facelift?  Modernizing the bathroom
6:00 pm       GMC Great Lakers Get-Together
7:30 pm       Ice Cream Social
7:30 pm       Breakfast Omelet Prep with Ken Frey – bring knife and cutting board
7:30 pm       Karoke in the Park – Michael and Sondra Thompson

Sunday | April 10
7:30 am       Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am       Let’s Get Moving! – Wear your comfy shoes and bring your dog or smartphone.
7:30 am       Omelets to Order – Ken Frey & Friends
7:30 am       Book Exchange
8:30 am       Announcements/Daily Drawings – must be present to win
9:00 am       Worship Service – “Free to Be”
10:15 am       Tech Session – Dick Serreyn & Dale Ropp –Rear Suspension
10:30 am       Non-Tech Session – Mary Colie  – Cooking Class
1:15 pm       GMC Parts Exchange, Craft & Flea Market
3:00 pm       Open House Tour
6:00 pm       GMC Heritage Cruisers Get-Together
6:00 pm       GMC Midwest Classics Cruisers Get-Together

Monday | October 3
7:30 am       Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am       Let’s Get Moving! – Wear your comfy shoes and bring your dog or smartphone.
7:30 am       Book Exchange
7:30 am       Pineblock Derby Weigh-In!
8:00 am       “Roaring 20’s Murder Mystery” Rehearsal
9:00 am       Announcements/Daily Drawings – must be present to win
9:15 am        Tech Session – Kerry Pinkerton – Making Life Easier in My GMC Motorhome
10:30 am       Tech Session – Ken Frey – Remove & Replace Engine Assembly
10:30 pm       Building Closed for Ladies Luncheon Set-up
1:15 pm       Aligning Your Vintage Headlights – Richard Waters
2:30 pm       Tech Session – Randy VanWinkle – “What’s Up” with Electronic Fuel Injection – including FiTech
1:30 pm       “Ms GMC Party” Ladies Social – hosted by the Great Lakers Ladies
4:00 pm       Tech Session – Richard Waters – Aligning Your Vintage Headlights
4:00 pm       Non-Tech Session – Mike & Billie Kelley – Fan the Flame
6:00 pm       GMC Eastern States Get-Together
7:30 pm       Ice Cream Social
8:15 pm       PineBlock Derby Races

Tuesday | October 4 | Roaring 20s!
7:30 am       Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am       Let’s Get Moving! – Wear your comfy shoes and bring your dog or smartphone.
7:30 am       Book Exchange
8:00 am       “Roaring 20’s Murder Mystery” Cast Review
8:30 am       Announcements/Daily Drawings – must be present to win
9:00 am       Non-Tech Session – Stan & Eileen Edwards – Can You Hear Me Now?
10:30 am      Tech Session – Dave Lenzi – Brakes – part one of two sessions
10:30 am       Non-Tech Session – Diane Dugger  – Strength and Balance Exercise
12:00 pm       Spaghetti Lunch – Ken Frey & Friends
1:00 pm       Tech Session – Jim Kanomata  – How to Make Bearings and Knuckles Last 80,000 Miles
1:00 pm       Non-Tech Session – Jane Hasek & Friends – “Tips for Healthy Living”
2:15 pm       Tech Session – Larry Whisler  – Tire Pressure Monitor Systems
3:30 pm       Tech Session – Tom & Marilyn Phipps – You and Your Blinds
4:45 pm       GMCMI Regional Member Meetings
6:30 pm       Murder Mystery Dinner!

Wednesday | October 5
7:30 am       Coffee Hour – Donuts, Waffles, Bagels, English Muffins, Oatmeal, Juice & Fruit
7:30 am       Let’s Get Moving! – Wear your comfy shoes and bring your dog or smartphone.
7:30 am       Book Exchange
8:30 am       Announcements/Daily Drawings – must be present to win
9:00 am       Non-Tech Session – Smart Phones – Men and Women are encourgaged to attend.
10:30 am       Tech Session – Dave Lenzi  – Brakes – part two of two sessions
10:30 am       Non-Tech Session  – Bookworms & Their Diet – (suggestions for books to read)
1:00 pm       Mini Tech Session Series
1:00 pm | Latest in Electrical – Bill Hubert
1:45 pm | Torsion Bar Repair – Dale Frahm
1:00 pm       Non-Tech Session – Jane Ropp – Sequel to “Who Gets Grandma’s Tea Pot”
3:00 pm       Membership Meeting, GMCMI Pineblock Derby Awards and the GMCMI Raffle
(meal to follow GMCMI Raffle)
5:30 pm       Vendor Meeting
6:30 pm       GMCMI Board Meeting

Thursday | October 6
11:00 am       Campground Checkout – Thank you for coming and safe travels!


 

 

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